Watch cleaning device



Sept. 4, 1951 Filed Sept. 13, 1947 A. BALTSOIS 2,566,819

WATCH CLEANING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l TEE-:11-

INVENTOR- fllexan cZer Balisois p 1951 A. BALTSOIS WATCH CLEANING DEVICE Filed Sept. '15, 1947 2 t e e h s s t e e h s 2 mmvrm uVZexancZer Ba Zfsois Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATCH CLEANING DEVICE Alexander Baltsois, Springfield, Mass.

Application September 13, 1947, Serial No. 773,773

3 Claims. 1 My invention relates to cleaning devices and more specifically to a machine for cleaning the component parts of a watch mechanism.

The principal objective of my invention is to c design and construct such a machine that would have many advantages over similar devices on the market today.

The advantage of my invention is that it enables the operator to clean the watch parts in a suitable cleaning fluid and then spin dry the parts in the same container, thereby eliminating the necessity of transferring the basket holding the parts to another container for drying purposes.

Further objectives of my invention provide for an adjustable speed control whereby the basket containing the watch parts may be rotated at any desired speed either when in or when suspended above the cleaning fluid.

Another advantage is the provision of new and novel support means for the delicate parts of the watches, such as, the balance wheels, whereby they are firmly and securely held during the cleaning operation, thereby preventing any injury or damage to the pivots.

A further advantage of my device is that due to its unique constructional features it may be adapted to be secured to the side of a work bench where it will be readily and conveniently available to the operator.

Further advantages and unique features of my device will be shown as I proceed with the description.

With reference to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical sectional view of my device,

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of my device,

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view through the cylindrical housing,

Fig. 4 shows a partial sectional view of the mesh basket,

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 shows a sectional view on line 6-6' of Fig. 5.

Fig. 1, I have shown my watch cleaning device 10, which is mounted on a frame H. Secured to the upper portion of the frame I I is the upper end of a vertical support rod I2, while the lower end of the rod I2 is anchored to the base of the frame ll. Attached to the upper end of the rod 12 is a horizontal plate 13, on which is mounted a cylindrical housing 14. Secured to the inside of the plate I3 is a circular flange l5 and a rubber washer or gasket l6 positioned between the 2 flange l5 and the plate 13. The container I1 is mounted on a support platform l8 that is resiliently mounted on the rod l2. The circular flange 15 extends downward into the open mouth of the container [1 which assists in properly aligning the container I1. The upper edge of the container l1 abuts against the washer 16 forming a tight seal and thereby preventing any liquid I 9 from being splashed-out of the container 11 when the device is in operation. 'In order to maintain the upper portion of the container l1 in tight relation with the washer IS, a pivotal handle 20 is secured to an angular. arm

\ 2| that is resiliently mounted on the rod l2.

When the handle 20 ispivoted downward the upper end cams against the support platform 18 forcing it upward, resulting in the container 11 being securely held in pace. Spring 22 mounted above and below the angular arm 2| on the rod 12 form a resilient mounting for the support platform 18.

Extending vertically through the housing 14 and container [1 is a shaft 23, the lower end of which is attached a circular ring member 24 equipped with means for holding the mesh basket 25. The ring member 24 is secured to the shaft through set screw 26. Upper and lower bearings 21 and 28 respectively are secured. through set screws 29 to the housing I4 for the purpose of maintaining the shaft 23 in vertical alignment. The shaft 23 is free to rotate in the bearings 21 and 28 and may be raised or loweredthrough manipulation of the knob 30. I

A. driving pulley 31 is positioned around. the shaft 23 and is equippedwith a sleeve 32, the

' lower end of which is cut away to form two hooks 33. A collar 34 is secured to the sleeve 32 below the upper bearing 21. The driving pulley 3| is connected through the belt 35 to a smaller pulley 36 which is mounted on a shaft to the motor 31 whose housing is secured to the frame I I. The motor 31 is equipped with a rheostat 38 and control arm 39whereby movement of the knob 40 will change the position of the contacts on the rheostats 38 resulting in a corresponding tion behind one of the brackets 4| thereby preventing the basket 25 from becoming disengaged from the ring 24 during the operation of the device. Manipulation of the knurled knob 45 will engage and disengage the locking bar 44. Adapted to fit inside the basket 25 and to be supported by the rim of the basket 25 is a shallow tray 46 with a plurality of various sized compartments or depressions 41. The compartments 4! are of various sizes to correspond to the variety of balance Wheels and are so constructed that the balance wheel will be securely held in the compartment 41 during the cleaning operation with the pivots being supported in such a manner that they will not contact the wire mesh. Resting on the top of the tray 46 is a circular mesh screen 48 that also assists in holding the parts of the watch in position on the tray 45. The remaining parts of the watch mechanism may be placed in the bottom of the basket for the cleaning operation.

Whentheparts of the watch have been appropriately placed in the basket 25, the basket 25 is secured to the ring 24, by the aforementioned method, a suitable cleaning fluid I9 is then placed in the container I1 and the container is secured in position so that the basket 25 is submerged in the cleaning fluid 19. In order to assure the effectual agitation of the fluid l9 a baiile 49 is placed in the bottom of'the container 11. A pluralityof holes 50 in the ring 24 furnish. additional means for the liquid to circulate through the wire mesh basket in order to adequately cleanthe watch parts. The motor 31 may then be started and when the driving pin 5| on the knob 89 is engaged in one of the holes 52 in the pulley 3| the rheostat 38 the speed at which the basket is rotated may be varied.

When the parts have been sufficiently cleaned the knob 30 may be pulled upward causing the basket 25 to be suspended above the liquid l9. The knob 30 is then rotated until the pin member 53 on the shaft 23 engages in the support hooks 3 3 as shown in Fig. 3. The basket is thus suspended to be rotated above the liquid through the intervention of the pulley 3 I, sleeve 32, hooks 33, pin 53 and the shaft 23.

The motor may once again be started and the basket 25 will be rotated above the liquid [9 causing. the parts to be spun dry and obviating the necessity for changing containers for this step.

My invention furnishes a quick and simple method for cleaning the component parts of a watch and one that will assure maximum protection to the delicate watch parts during such cleaning operation. It is a machine that may be conveniently operated at any select location and one that due to its light weight may be transported from place to place with a minimum of effort. The machine also lends itself to be secured to the side of the operators work bench, which is not possible with any other watch cleaning device on the market today.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to the present preferred form which it may assume, it is not to be limited to such details and form since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence, it is designed to cover any and all forms and modifications ofthe invention which may come within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A watch cleaning machine of the type described including a frame, a fluid container, and a cylindrical housing, a vertical rod secured to said frame, said housing secured to said frame and being equipped with a depending flange, an adjustable support platform resiliently mounted on said rod, said container having its base resting on said platform and its open end positioned around said flange, a vertical shaft centrally positioned in said housing with its lower 7 end terminating in said container and its upper the shaft will be rotated. Through the means of end projecting above said housing, a circular mesh basket attached to the lower end of said shaft, a knob with a driving pin positioned on the upper end of said shaft, a driving pulley drivingly connected to said'shaft through said pin, and motor means for rotating said pulley and shaft causing said basket to be rotated in said fluid.

2. A cleaning machine of the type described including a frame, a fluid container, a housing having a flange secured to said frame, a vertical rod secured to said frame, an adjustable platform resiliently mounted on said rod, said container having its base resting on said platform and its open end positioned around said flange, a vertical shaft having a transverse pin positioned centrally of said housing, the lower end of said shaft terminating in said container and its upper end projecting above said housing,'a mesh basket at- V tached to the lower end of said shaft to rotate therewith, a knob with a driving pin secured to the upper end of said shaft, a pulley loose on said shaft which when engaged by the pin on said knob causes the pulley to rotate the shaft, depending means on said pulley within said housing which when engaged with the transverse pin on said shaft by raising and turning the shaft drivingly suspends the basket above the level of the fluid in the container, and power means for rotating the pulley.

3. A cleaning machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said depending means'on the pulley consists of hook shape members.

ALEXANDER BALTsoIs.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

